Patient and Family Perspectives for Trauma-Informed Ethics Consultation: A Pilot Study.

Area of Science:

• Bioethics
• Patient-Centered Care
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Trauma-informed care principles are increasingly recognized for their importance in healthcare settings.
• Integrating these principles into ethics consultation requires understanding patient and caregiver perspectives.
• Existing literature lacks comprehensive patient and family input on trauma-informed ethics consultation (TIEC).

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and efficacy of using case-based focus groups to gather patient and caregiver views on TIEC.
• To analyze participant reflections to better conceptualize and operationalize TIEC.
• To explore how patient and family experiences shape perceptions of trauma-informed practices in ethics consultation.

Main Methods:

• Pilot study utilizing case-based focus groups with patients and caregivers.
• Qualitative analysis of participant discussions on trauma-informed principles.
• Exploration of the focus group methodology for collecting patient and family perspectives on TIEC.

Main Results:

• Case-based focus group methodology was found to be generally effective for gathering relevant insights.
• Patients and families demonstrated overlapping and mutually reinforcing conceptualizations of trauma-informed principles (e.g., safety and inclusion).
• Perceptions of "trauma-informed" practices in ethics consultation are influenced by individual identity, background, and experiences.

Conclusions:

• TIEC is an active and iterative process, shaped by individual patient and caregiver contexts.
• Patient and caregiver engagement is crucial for developing and implementing effective TIEC.
• Further research is needed to operationalize TIEC based on diverse stakeholder perspectives.